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New Orleans Committee of Subsistence records

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Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Correspondence, bills of lading and receipts

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Title: New Orleans Committee of Subsistence records, 1862 May-June

ID: LaRC/Manuscripts Collection 627

Primary Creator: New Orleans Committee of Subsistence.

Extent: 1.0 Boxes

Arrangement: The collection is arranged by topic as follows: correspondence, bills of lading, and receipts. The collection consists of 1 box.

Subjects: Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893., Food -- Transportation., Food relief -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Freret, William, 1804-1864., Grieff, A.D., New Orleans (La.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865., New Orleans Committee of Subsistence., Steamboats -- Louisiana -- History., United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Food supply.

Forms of Material: Bills of lading., Correspondence., Receipts (financial records)

Languages: English

The collection concerns the New Orleans Committee of Subsistence, which was formed in May 1862 when Federal troops occupied New Orleans. It was an attempt by the martial law government of General Benjamin Butler and the local Council to deal with the resulting subsistence dislocations forced upon the city's populace. The collection contains correspondence, including charters and agreements with steamboat captains to ship food into the city. It also contains correspondence from William Freret, the Committee's Chairman, as well as A.D. Grieff, agent for the Red River district, in which he explains the reason for the high cost of freight in his area--a retaliatory measure of Alexandria's Safety Committee for the New Orleans Subsistence Committee could not supply them with a supply cargo. The collection also consists of various bills of lading, again dealing mainly with shipments from Alexandria to New Orleans on the steamboats Doubloon, Moro, A.W. Quarrier and Southerner. There are also receipts of Committee payments for supplied food and expenses of transportation on the steamboats.

The New Orleans Committee of Subsistence was formed in May, 1862 when Federal troops occupied New Orleans. Even before the capture of New Orleans, food was scarce and costly because of the Union's blockade of Southern ports, the supply demand of the Confederate army, and the diminishing value of Confederate currency. The severity of the city's plight was most exemplified by the fact that by 1862 April 13, there was probably a fifteen day supply of corn and rice, and meat to last a week. The population itself compounded the problem of the food shortage by fleeing the city with supplies as news of the Union army's approach was forewarned. When General Benjamin Butler arrived 1862 May 1, he acted immediately to alleviate the problem by issuing orders to guarantee the safe passage of food supplies and by appointing agents to secure subsistence for the city. The Committee was an attempt by the martial law government of General Butler and the local Council to deal with the resulting subsistence dislocations forced upon the city's populace.

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Preferred Citation: New Orleans Committee of Subsistence records, Manuscripts Collection 627, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 747111826